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General Information
The Downs, Malvern College Prep School
Brockhill Road, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs WR13 6EY
Tel : 01684 540277 Fax 01684 540094
E-mail:downs hm@aol.com Website: www.thedowns.org.uk
Dear Parents
I hope your summer holiday has got off to a relaxing start, albeit without the weather we would have hoped to enjoy and I am writing to update you on the progress that we have made so far.
May I start by thanking you for the extremely courteous and thoughtful way in which you have brought your concerns and worries to me, and also express my appreciation to those of you who have written to me with such supportive and positive comments.
I can confirm that the new Board of Governors has been agreed and the Board met socially for the first time last week (legally speaking they do not have formal powers or controls until 1st September 2007).
The Board is made up as follows :
Mr Adrian Silcock, Chairman retired Headmaster of Kings School, Macclesfield and Chairman of The Downs Board of Governors for 6 years. Adrian is an experienced reporting Inspector for ISI.
Mr Ken Madden recently retired Prep School Headmaster who is currently undertaking theological studies and is also a member of the Malvern College Council.
Mr John Goodwin local Chartered Surveyor, and former Downs and Malvern College parent. John has been Chairman of The Downs Finance and Development Committee for the past 8 years.
Mr Doug Robertson financier and current member of the Malvern College Council, who will be taking on responsibility for financial controls within the new school.
Mr Ian Beer currently a Downs School Governor who sits on the Finance and Development Committee. Ian was formerly Headmaster of Harrow School and chaired the RFU.
Mrs Rosalie Dawes formerly Chair of Malvern College Prep Management Committee and currently a member of the Malvern College Council. Rosalie has been a JP for many years and is a most experienced school Governor.
Mr Peter Lacey recently joined The Downs Board of Governors and served on the Academic Committee, having just retired as Headmaster of Kings School, Gloucester.
Mr Sid Hill currently a Malvern College Council member and Headmaster of Elstree Prep School in Berkshire.
Mrs Joan Wright currently sits on the Pastoral and Welfare Sub-Committee of The Downs Governing Board and is a retired teacher and Headmasters wife.
The Very Revd R Lewis currently a Malvern College Council member and formerly Dean of Wells Cathedral and experienced prep school Governor.
Mr Christopher Fincken currently a Downs School Governor with operational responsibility for The Downs Light Railway, Christopher chairs The Downs Health & Safety Committee and is a National Health Service Guardian in Herefordshire.
Staff
Staff at both schools have been consulted on the partnership. Full and open consultation will continue with elected staff representatives who will form a joint consultative committee.
Uniform
Detailed discussions have taken place on the new uniform and lists are available from Schooltogs in Malvern, but the actual uniform will not be available until later in the holiday. Some items may not be in stock until September; please check with Schooltogs on 01684 578785 to save an unnecessary journey. Some principles concerning uniform have been established.
The new uniform will be acceptable at The Downs and Malvern College Prep in the coming academic year. This allows parents of new children, or those needing to change/upgrade articles of uniform, to buy and wear the new uniform.
Children in Year 8 when the schools merge will be welcome to wear their existing uniforms providing they are still in a neat and tidy condition.
You will note from the uniform list that wherever possible we have excluded items of uniform that are unnecessary or currently little used.
Fees
Fees will be reviewed by the Board of Governors and announced during the Lent/Spring term 2008.
Buildings
The last two weeks have been extremely busy on the building front. So far there have been meetings between the architects and local planning authority, local environmental and ecology professionals, and traffic management and planning consultants. The Downs site is having full topographical, asbestos, electrical and mechanical engineering surveys carried out to enable work to start as promptly as possible. It is hoped that the work to refurbish the Boarding House will have commenced before the start of the new term.
Transport
Work is currently underway to develop a transport plan and we are working together with traffic management consultants to implement an effective scheme; more news on this later in the year.
I will send you a further progress report in September but will, of course, inform you if any significant events occur during the summer period.
May I finally reiterate that Karen and I are very happy to answer any queries you may have during the holiday period, but please be aware that we may be away from school at times during the period 23rd July to 23rd August.
In the meantime may I wish you a most enjoyable and restful summer holiday with your families.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Alastair Ramsay
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